Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Treatment of Psychological Distress in Pregnancy: Is there an Effect on Maternal Autonomic Response to Acute Stress?
Abstract
Pregnancy is a time of increased physical and emotional stress for many women. Examination of cardiovascular response to acute stress can provide a non-invasive way of assessing autonomic nervous system function. Previous research suggests that the experience of heightened stress response in pregnancy is a risk factor for poor maternal and child health. Treatment of psychological distress with mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in non-pregnant populations can positively impact cardiovascular reactivity to stress. The current randomized controlled trial investigated MBCT for treatment of prenatal distress and examined whether MBCT was associated with changes in the physiological stress response. Women between 12-28 weeks gestation were recruited for participation in an 8-week MBCT intervention (N = 29) or assigned to treatment-as-usual (N = 32). Cardiovascular responses to a laboratory-based Stroop task and mental arithmetic stressors were measured by respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure) and assessed at pre-treatment, posttreatment, and three-months postpartum. MBCT participants experienced higher RSA at posttreatment for Stroop, mental arithmetic, and during the respective recovery periods, as well as greater RSA reactivity to both stressors at three-months follow-up. No changes in blood pressure or blood pressure reactivity were found. MBCT appeared to increase vagal activity posttreatment and vagal response to acute stress at three-months follow-up. Treatment of maternal distress with mindfulness-based interventions may have physiological health benefits.
Description
Keywords
Mental Health, Psychology--Behavioral, Psychology--Physiological
Citation
Shay, M. S. (2017). Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Treatment of Psychological Distress in Pregnancy: Is there an Effect on Maternal Autonomic Response to Acute Stress? (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/26920